In Governor William Yates Atkinson's first campaign, she rendered him valuable service by her vigorous editorials.

[6][a] She descended from an old North Carolina family notable in the political and war history of that State.

Her father, James Speed Dortch (died August 1891) was a lawyer in the northeast part of the state and,[7] also edited the Carnesville Tribune.

[8] Dortch became the owner and editor of the Carnesville, Georgia, Tribune in 1888, when the establishment consisted of 150 pounds of long primer type, mostly in "pi", a few cases of worn adverting type and a subscription book whose credit column had been conscientiously neglected.

Beginning the work at the age of 17, she fought the boycotters and Alliance opponents and overcame the southern prejudice against women using their intelligence in the business world.

[7] In October 1894, it was announced that Dortch, editor at that time of the Milledgeville Chronicle, was to become the private secretary of Governor Atkinson.

[11] She also authored the "Dortch Bill" (which became law in 1896) to allow a woman to hold the office of State Librarian.

In 1905, she documented her husband's account of the Civil War by publishing the book Lee and Longstreet at High Tide.

She became a member of the Progressive Party and supported Theodore Roosevelt when he lost the Republican nomination to Taft in 1912.